School-age 3

What Can We Do With Cardboard?. Let's Find Out!
November 2018

As Early Childhood Educators, we are always looking for ways to engage the children and spark their curiosity. Therefore, when I came across some folding card board pieces it made me wonder what the children could do with them. As, I set the cardboard pieces on the tables several children took two each and coloured and illustrated pictures on them.

Then each of the children went to different parts of the classroom. Evan and Cameron went to the cubby area. Olivia, Emma and Lilyan went to the carpet and Natalie, Carmela and Vana went near our cart. As I witnessed these experiences, I asked each of the children what they were making with the cardboard. Evan said, “We are making a base camp for our army.” Natalie said, “We are making a house and writing our goals on the white board about what we need in our house.” Emma said. “We made a prison and Lilyan and I are the prisoners and Olivia is the guard. We are writing a plan to escape.”

The children appeared to be so engaged in their own dramatic play experiences that they have asked to use the cardboard boxes repeatedly. This activity encourages the children to use their imagination, share space and take turns using materials. It also promotes positive peer interactions with in the classroom.